KHARTOUM (AFP) -Sudanese Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi has branded the idea of separating religion from the state in Sudan as "atheism," describing his political party as monotheist.
"The [ruling] National Congress is monotheist and knows no separation of religion from the state," said Turabi. His comments were published on the same day as peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel delegations were to resume in Nairobi in a further effort to overcome this issue, deadlocked among others.
Turabi was responding to a statement by First Vice-President Ali Osman Taha, who said his government was willing to discuss the issue of separating religion from the state, a matter that in his view would not jeopardize the country's unity.
"Such talk is irrational and can only be pronounced by one who does not believe in God, as Sudan has only one home, which is the mosque," said Turabi.
Turabi was reduced to an administrative position within the ruling NC party by December 12 presidential decrees that dissolved parliament, imposed a state of emergency and suspended articles of the Constitution related to election of governors of the country's 26 states.
He ridiculed a statement in a Saudi Arabian newspaper in which President Omar al-Beshir, who has been seeking to curb Turabi's powers and influence, stated that a two-headed government in Sudan had gone forever.
"I do not know what the President meant by two heads - two chiefs of justice, two parliament speakers or two presidents of the Republic - all I know is that we have one head of state," said Turabi, adding that "Such a notion is made by circles that hate Islam."
He also implied that the United States was behind the December 12 decrees, which were the breaking point in the friendship between Beshir and Turabi. Their cooperation had led to a 1989 military coup and establishment of an Islamic state in Sudan.
"The Ramadan 4 (December 12) resolutions were extraordinary and America will not be content with them," said Turabi, adding that democracy in Sudan and the Arab world was not a priority for the United States.
He predicted that the United States would force the present government out of power "as it did with [former President] Gaafar Nimeiri" who was pushed by Washington in March 1985 to oust his then-ally Turabi from government, a matter which Turabi believes led to the ousting of Nimeiri himself in May 1985.
